Waistcoat



Dec. 1, 1942. w. c. N. NORTON WAISTCOAT Filed Feb. 26. 1940 wa /Cm. BY YWW A; 4017 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WAISTCOAT Walter Charles Norton Norton, London, England Application February 26, 1940, Serial -No. 320,775 In Great Britain June 27, 1939 7 Claims.

The invention relates generally to garments and has particular reference to dress suits, especially so-called backless waistcoatsor vests thereof.

Dress Waistcoats or devices of this-kind have usually been shaped with an endeavor to bring about neat fitting to the user, so as to present, as when first used after being laundered, an appearance free from sagging or crinkles in the lapels, but as such devices are ironed in .fiat'condition and have heretofore been thus delivered to the user, while neat fitting calls for a contour which follows to a. certain extent that of the body or breast of the user, satisfactory results have not been obtained, and one of the main objects of this invention is to overcome disad vantages of the nature here stated.

Furthermore, Waistcoats of this kind, which at times are called upon to serve while the wearer is bodily active, or while at dance parties, for example, frequently become displaced, as by stretching or contracting, and another ofv the present objects is the provision of a waistcoat which selected portions thereof may be reshaped, contracted or allowed to expand, whereby to obviate such displacement.

Since the lapels of the garment and parts adjacent thereto are ironed into a desirably stiff condition, a feature of the invention, in order to retain said condition, under a wide range of circumstances is a relatively pliable portion. From a selected edge part of the vest, in one aspect of the invention, the pliable portion is directed towards the lapel, and another featured the invention, to secure still a further object thereof, is the provision of adjusting means for the pliable portion.

With the above indicated objects and advantages in view, as well as others which will hereinafter appear, the essential features of the present improved constructions are herein clearly described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig, 1 is a plan View of a waistcoat, on a small scale, constructed in accordance'with the present invention; I

Fig. 2 i's an enlarged plan View of one section or half thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a fragment of a vest, in which a marginal indent is provided with curved boundaries in association with adjusting means; and

Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary view of a vest similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing a different adjusting means, which secures the same result.

Fig- 6 is a fragmentary view similar to part of Fig. 2, butlshowinga modification of structure.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as seen in Figs. 1-3, the structure includes coating front sections [0,, II on which are lapelsl2, l3. The sections H), H arejoined at the top by a flexible back collar segment I4 and are separable at the lower front, there being, in the present instance, conventional button holes, and buttons l5,,together with aback, textile, adjustable holding strap l6, well known in thisart. The sections II], II, have thereon like metal loops l1, one on each side, for two of the ends of said strap.

For the purpose of the present improved construction, the front sections of-the waistcoat are substantially identical, and in the outer or front member of thesection I0 is provided with a V- shaped indenture, opening or cut out. The apex of. the legs of the V isdirected toward the lapel l2, and the-spaced ends or base of said legs, the length of which may differ from the particular length shown, terminate at the side edge [8 of said section.

In opening formed by the indent is a portion 25. of the flexible lining of the section I0, said portion being stitched to the boundary margin of the opening with the outer edge parts of Zipper strips I9, 20, said strips having thereon the usual metal. elements, as conventionally represented. Stitching attaches the Zipper strips together with the lining portion, in seams 22, 23, and movable on. the elements of said strips is a slide fastener 2|.

,Ihe apex, or junction, of the Zipper strips ends isshown at 26. Said strips have their opposite or base ends incorporated in a seam portion 21, at a side edge l8 of the vest, and in a second or movedlposition the slide fastener is shown centrally at 'l2l in broken lines.

I As laundered, ironed and delivered to the user, the section ll] is in a flat relatively stiff condition and it'is noted that in no case may a fiat vest front desirably fit, since some users are athletic, with development or prominences acc'ordin'gly, and others have different developments.

Therefore, with a section [0 desirably cut and made, a slide fastener may first be placed in about a medial position l2l to partly tighten the section In for assuming comfortable and neat fitting. When the user wishes to exercise, dance, or the like, the slide can be moved some distance towards the end 26 for expansion, and at other times, as when no bodily bending is to be indulged in, the slide may be moved some distance farther towards the end 21, but in either case there is comparatively little bending of the label l2, which is thereby kept clear of crinkles.

The location of the adjusting means l92l, may differ from that shown in Fig. 2. Said means may, for example, extend inwardly from other points of the edge I8, and the apex 26 may point in a different direction. Likewise, an adjusting means may extend inwardly from a bottom edge 30, or from a different side edge part 3|.

Closed ends of the Zipper strips are shown at 26, and strips may be provided with a second pair a of closed ends 26, the metal Zipper elements of the strips being thus close together, in which case the inner lining, as 25, may be folded or gathered,

to allow of subsequent expansion. Then, when the section I0 is so expanded, movement of a member 2| towards the center of the strips causes contraction.

As shown in Fig. 4 the structure is the same as that: of said Fig. 2, except that the sides of the indentation are curved, and, the end 26a is differently directed. The elements of this modification, being partly like those already described, include a slide 2la, Zipper strips l9a, a, and a flexible segment a.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, a cord, or lace, 2), serves as means for loosening side strips I91), 201), so as to allow of expansion, and said cord is also capable of tightening or contracting the structure, there being lace holes in the said strips as shown. The structure shown in Fig. 6 is also the same as that of Fig. 2, except that in the cutting of the indentation, the lining is also cut out. Instead of the lining portion, an inserted flexible segment 250 is stitched in the seams 22, 23. The segment 250 has thereon a seam 21c.

Variations other than those illustrated may be resorted to within the scope of the invention and parts of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A backless waistcoat comprising a front section including a stiff outer member having an opening with a tapering point extending substantially horizontally and inwardly from an edge of said waistcoat, theboundaries of the opening being relatively wide at said edge, a flexible member having a portion disposed inwardly of the first member in closing relation with the opening, and means for drawing said boundaries together, at least part of the way between the point and said edge.

2. A backless waistcoat comprising a relatively stiff front half including a side edge and a lapel, said half having therein a substantially horizontal elongated indent with the boundaries thereof spaced widely apart atone end and tapering to a point at the other end, the wide end being open onto the side edge of said half and the point being diverted to. the lapel, and means for closing said boundaries together to a predetermined distance commencing at the point and extending towards said wide end.

3. A backless waistcoat comprising a front half including a side edge and having a lapel, said lapel having a relatively stiff facing and a flexible backing or lining, said facing having thereon an elongated indent with the boundaries thereof spaced widely apart at one end and tapering to the other end, the wide end being open onto the side edge and the tapered end being directed to the lapel, said backing having a portion thereof visible within the indent, and means for drawing at least part of said boundaries together at the tapered end, part of the backing portion being adapted to be flexed and contracted, the other part of said portion forming an auxiliary facing.

4. A backless waistcoat comprising a front half including an edge structure and having a lapel, said half having a relatively stiff facing, said facing having therein an elongated indent with the boundaries thereof spaced widely apart at one end and tapering to the other end, the wide end being open onto said edge and the tapered end being directed to the lapel, a flexible insert disposed within the indent in closing relation therewith, and means for drawing at least part of said boundaries together between the tapered and wide ends, said insert adapted to be flexed at one portion thereof, the other portion of the insert being adapted to form an auxiliary facing.

5. A backless waistcoat comprising a front half including a side edge and having a lapel, said half having a relatively stiff facing, said facing having therein an elongated indent with the boundaries thereof spaced widely apart .at one end and tapering to a point at the other end, the wide end being open onto said edge and the tapered end being directed to the lapel, said boundaries forming seams; a triangular flexible backing having two edges thereof fast in the seams, a Zipper strip also having an edge portion thereof fast in one of the seams, another Zipper strip having an edge fast in the other seam, and a Zipper slide cooperating with said strip, whereby said slide may be moved along the strips so as to selectively close or open the indent for contracting or expanding the facing thereat, so that said lapel may be prevented from crinkling. 6. A backless waistcoat comprising a front section having in the side thereof a substantially horizontal indent with boundaries tapering to a point, and-means connected with said front section adjacent to said'boundaries and adapted to temporarily draw said boundaries together so as to contract said section thereat.

'7. A backless waistcoat comprising a front half including a side edge and a front edge, said half having'therein a substantially horizontal elongated indent with the boundaries thereof spaced widely apart atone end and tapering to a point at the other end, the wide end being open onto the sideedge of said half and the point being diverted to said front edge, and means for temporarily'closing said boundaries together to a predetermined distance commencing at the point and extending. towards said wide end.

I WALTER CHARLES NORTON NORTON. 

